The following editorial, among the most famous ever written, appeared in The New York Sun in 1897 and remains appropriate for this holiday season 121 years later. — The Editorial Board

Is there a Santa Claus?

We take pleasure in answering at once and thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:

Dear Editor! I am 8 years old.

Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.

Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun it’s so.” Please tell me the truth: Is there a Santa Claus?

Bands, floats, marchers and Santa Claus on a fire truck participated in the Christmas parade on N. Broadway in December 1976, sponsored by the Fountain City Optimist Club. Passing in review here is the Rollins School of Dance float. News Sentinel Archives

The Polar Express was offering rides to children on Gay Street at the Regal Celebration of Lights Friday night, kicking off Christmas in the city. Mayor Madeline Rogero was joined by David Ownby, Regal Entertainment CFO and Santa Claus the City of Knoxville turned on Christmas tree. J. Miles Cary, J. Miles Cary/News Sentinel

Spectators gather to watch the annual lighting of the Christmas tree in Krutch Park during Christmas in the City festivities in downtown Knoxville on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. Adam Lau, Adam Lau/Knoxville News Sentinel

Gay Street is decorated for Christmas on Nov. 13, 1962. The original caption: The 'Starlight Stairway,' the new Gay St. Christmas decoration, is well underway. Note the huge silver stars, 21 in all, which will center Gay St., five to the block. Between the stars and sidewalks will be festoons of gold and silver intermingled with thousands of vari-colored lights. News Sentinel Archive, KNS Archives

Emily Fisher of the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership looks at a Christmas tree display in the Sunsphere at World's Fair Park before a press conference in August 1998 where Mayor Victor Ashe announced that Knoxville's "Up on the Rooftops" Christmas display has grown from 11 trees on five buildings four years ago will grow to more than 100 trees in 1998, including a 50-foot lighted tree atop First Tennessee Plaza Tower. Clay Owen/News Sentinel Archives

Knoxville city employees give one of Santa's helpers a helping hand as they get Christmas decorations into place on the roof of the Civic Coliseum in November 1996. J. Miles Cary/News Sentinel Archives

Tommy Gilliland of Fantasy Carriage Company gains control of his team after they spooked while delivering a Christmas Tree in November 2001 on the 500 block of Gay St. in downtown Knoxville. Nobody was hurt when the 25-foot spruce spilled from its carriage as it was driven to the Cradle of Country Music Park on the corner of Gay St. and Summit Hill. Paul Efird/News Sentinel Archives

Sam Rauhuff works on a wreath for Christmas at the Market Square Mall in downtown Knoxville in December 1996. Rauhuff said that he has been making wreaths at Christmas time for more than 20 years. News Sentinel Archives

Grant Willis sits in front of his Samurai Jeep that he has decorated with lights. Grant said he finally figured out how to wire his Jeep and make it work. He has over 200 bulbs trimmed around his vehicle. Byron E. Small/News Sentinel Archives

Greg Long of the City of Knoxville Public Service Department examines the Christmas lights he has put up along the trees at Krutch Park in October 1999 in downtown Knoxville in preparation for the oncoming holiday. The lighting ceremony is planned for the first weeks of December. Saul Young/News Sentinel Archives

A parade member throws candy to the spectators during the annual Halls Christmas parade along Maynardville Highway in Halls, Tennessee on Saturday, December 2, 2017. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel, Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Mike Carpenter, a reindeer handler from Huntsville, Ala., gives Baby Prancer a kiss prior to Knoxville's Christmas parade in December 1995. A team of five reindeer from Reindeer, Inc., out of Huntsville, Ala., pulled Santa Claus in the parade. The sleigh, built by Bobby Baldwin and the owner of the company, is made of birch plywood. Margaret Bentlage/News Sentinel Archives

Santa is greeted by Kheri Bonds on Friday, November 25, 2016 during the Christmas in the City celebration in Downtown Knoxville. The City kicked off the holiday season with the lighting of the Downtown Christmas Tree on Friday, November 25, 2016 and the Regal Celebration of Lights. SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL, SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL

Henley Doss shows herself through a cutout as her brother
Braylen peeks through the hole at the City of Knoxville's Christmas in the City kick-off celebration. SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL, SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL

Parade members make last minute adjustments to their floats during the annual Halls Christmas parade along Maynardville Highway in Halls, Tennessee on Saturday, December 2, 2017. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel, Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

The Holston Building, home to Hamilton National Bank, is pictured Dec. 29, 1961. The building now is a condo development called the Holston. In the foreground is the now razed west side of the 600 block of Gay Street. News Sentinel Archive, News Sentinel Archives

Ruth Ballinger and daughters Alixandria and McKinsey help collect donations for the Salvation Army in Downtown Knoxville on Friday, November 25, 2016 during the Christmas in the City kick-off celebration. SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL, SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL

Avery Lewis, 6, lays a Christmas wreath on a grave in Knoxville National Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014. Volunteers participated in wreath-laying ceremonies throughout the day as part of a Wreaths Across America effort at three local veteran cemeteries. Adam Lau, Adam Lau/News Sentinel

Riders with bikes decorated with Christmas lights and wearing costumes make their way down Gay Street during the Bike Tour de Lights Friday, Dec. 18, 2015, in Knoxville, Tenn. Wade Payne, WADE PAYNE/SPECIAL TO THE NEWS SENTINEL

Dave Moore stands before the Family Truckster, a station wagon he dressed up to look like one from the movie ÒChristmas Vacation.Ó He says he has driven the vehicle more than 3,000 miles over the holiday season to spread Christmas cheer.
Dave Moore poses with visitor Lisa Hazlett in front of the Family Truckster.
A stuffed toy squirrel sits atop the live Christmas tree that adorns the Family Truckster. Steve Ahillen/Special to the News Sentinel

Joseph and Johanna Luncford help their tow year old daughter McKinley Luncford navigate the ice at the outdoor ice skating rink on Market Square in downtown Knoxville Tuesday December 24, 2013.
Knoxville's Holidays on Ice, is an outdoor ice skating rink on Market Square in downtown Knoxville. Skaters can enjoy the ice under a tent with Christmas lights rain or shine. The skating rink will be closed Christmas Day but will be open till January 5, 2014. J. Miles Cary, J. Miles Cary/News Sentinel

Bruce Farrant greets Elizabeth Franklin during a holiday party at the Asbury Place assisted living facility on Wednesday, December 23, 2015. Farrant wears an orange Tennessee Volunteer Santa outfit that was made by Franklin for the event. Saul Young, Saul Young/Knoxville News Sentinel

Raisethetree.com co-founder James Trimble delivers a Fraser fir to a customer Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010 on Gay Street. Trimble and fellow University of Tennessee graduate Paul Dickenson founded the new start up company that delivers Christmas trees that are ordered online. Trimble says the company gives 25 percent of profits to a community organization of the customer's choice. Rock n’ roll fans will recognize Trimble as the lead singer of the band Dirty Guv’nahs. J. Miles Cary, J. Miles Cary/News Sentinel

From left, Jeremy Irick, Andy Shinlever, Sue Buckley, Kathy Holloway, Nicole Anderson, and Sarah Holloway sing Christmas carols to residents at Samaritan Place on Tuesday, December 14, 2010. Sue Buckley and her husband, John, not shown, are both blind. They have started Club Vibes for others ages 14-30 who are also blind. Club Vibes teaches both social and living skills to their members. All picured are members of Club Vibes except Kathy Holloway, who is Club Vibes member, Sarah Holloway's mother. SAUL YOUNG, Saul Young/News Sentinel

Sgt. Robert Carpenter helps Sgt. Santa Claus get ready to repel off the balcony of the Hyatt Hotel into the lobby for the opening of "Christmas in the City" celebration kickoff in December 1993. Michael Patrick/News Sentinel Archives

Hal Pena of the City of Knoxville traffic engineering department installs holiday banners along Western Avenue in December 1998. Pena said approximately 175 holiday banners will fly in the downtown area. Margaret Bentlage/News Sentinel Archives

Greg Long of the City of Knoxville Public Service Department examines the Christmas lights he has put up along the trees at Krutch Park in October 1999 in downtown Knoxville in preparation for the oncoming holiday. The lighting ceremony is planned for the first weeks of December. Saul Young/News Sentinel Archives

The Carter High School Marching Band makes their way down Gay Street during the 43rd annual WIVK Christmas Parade on Friday, December 4, 2015, in Knoxville. Shawn Millsaps, Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel

A 35-foot Christmas tree is pictured on the site of the razed Market House on Dec. 1, 1960, at Market Square. The tree was donated by A.l. Simpson, 3707 Knox Lane; nurseryman Joe N. Howell took care of the cutting and transportation duties. It is the first time in 20 years that Market Square has had a Christmas tree. News Sentinel Archive, KNS Archives

Eugene Cooper, center, waits along Gay Street in the rain for the start of the WIVK Christmas Parade in Knoxville, Tenn. on Friday, December 6, 2013. Shawn Millsaps, Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel

Shamare Johnson, 1, center, helps lay holiday wreaths on headstones with, from left, sister Sheyenne, mother Rebikah, father Sharles, brother Shaque, and sister Shentasia at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015. Sharles Johnson's grandfather served in the military and he brought his entire family out to participate in Wreaths Across America's event. Adam Lau, Adam Lau/Knoxville News Sentinel

Volunteer Alice Wershing helps Lucy Mendilla, 5, pick out a toy during the East Tennessee Technology Access Center's Toy Tech party on Monday, December 8, 2014. The event gives out electronic toys that have been adapted to be easier to use by children with disabilities. Saul Young/News Sentinel

Two year-old chimpanzee George swings to check out a Christmas tree covered in treats at the Knoxville Zoo on Friday, Jan. 7, 2011. The trees were donated to the zoo from various stores like Home Depot or Lowes and different animals eat or play with them for weeks after the holidays. The treats consist of oranges and peanut butter. Amy Smotherman Burgess, Amy Smotherman Burgess/Knoxville News Sentinel

Abigail Bailey, 5, waits to receive a present on Sunday, December 18, 2011 at Overcoming Believers Church. More than 2000 toys were given out by the church to families for Christmas. Chad Greene, Chad Greene/Special to the News Sentinel

City of Knoxville Public Service workers Cody Foster, left, and Nick Andreasen place the top of a 42 foot decorative holiday tree in Krutch park in downtown Knoxville Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015. Workers began constructing the new tree on Monday, which will be lit during the Regal Celebration of Lights on November 27th at 6pm. AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS, AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL

Gracie Clelland, 17, and her friend Ann Vogelsang a exchange student from Germany left Cosby in the early morning hours of Friday and arrived at West Town Mall at 2:30 am to start their Christmas shopping.
Despite the stores opening on the Thanksgiving holiday, shoppers flocked to West Town Mall on black Friday looking to find discounts on everything from appliances and televisions to toys and clothes. Some Black Friday shoppers arrived at the West Town Mall for the Midnight opening and were still there well after dawn. J. Miles Cary, J. Miles Cary/News Sentinel Archives

Malcolm King of South Knoxville reads a novel while his mother-in-law does her Christmas shopping King said he only expected to get about an hours reading done because his mother-in-law is a efficient shopper. Black Friday is now in full swing with holiday shoppers filling the stores and malls in Knoxville. J. Miles Cary, J. Miles Cary/News Sentinel Archives

Santa Claus walks though West Town Mall with Black Friday shoppers. Black Friday is now in full swing with holiday shoppers filling the stores and malls in Knoxville. J. Miles Cary, J. Miles Cary/News Sentinel Archives

City Service Department employee Mike Armstrong begins decorating a 30-foot spruce tree delivered Monday to Krutch Park in November 1988. The tree was donated by Harry and Martee Anderson. The lights on the tree will be turned on during a "Krutch Park Christmas in the City" celebration on Friday. Steve Mellon/News Sentinel Archives

Fireworks shoot up into the sky over downtown Knoxville after the lighting of a 38-foot tall Christmas tree in Krutch Park during Christmas in the City festivities on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. Adam Lau, Adam Lau/Knoxville News Sentinel

John Robert Boyd, 11, laughs while clinging to Karen Boyd in hopes of avoiding a fall on the ice rink in Market Square during Christmas in the City festivities in downtown Knoxville on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. Adam Lau, Adam Lau/Knoxville News Sentinel

Pat England of Knoxville uses a shopping bag to try to catch some of the candy thrown from the float carrying Santa at the end f the Christmas parade in December 1986 in downtown Knoxville. Frank Breithaupt/News Sentinel Archives

A young reveler runs between trees lit in Krutch Park for the Regal Celebration of Lights during Christmas in the City festivities in downtown Knoxville on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014.] Adam Lau, Adam Lau/Knoxville News Sentinel

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias.

There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal life with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world, which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernatural beauty and glory beyond.